Justice News

Former Highland Park Police Officer Sentenced To Prison For Bribery

A former Highland Park Police officer was sentenced to prison today for conspiring with three other police officers to commit extortion and protect a shipment of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, III.

During a hearing before U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn, Craig Clayton, 55, of Highland Park, Michigan, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and two years of supervised release based on his plea of guilty to conspiring to commit extortion. Clayton had agreed with three other Highland Park police officers to take money in exchange for delivering a four-kilogram shipment of cocaine. Clayton brought his badge and gun to protect the shipment, and Clayton accepted $1,500 in cash from an FBI informant for his work.

United States Attorney McQuade said, "The court’s sentence today sends a strong message that police officers who take bribes will go to prison, and that no one is above the law.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Foley stated, “Police officers who swear an oath to serve and protect are held to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. The FBI is committed to ensuring those standards are maintained, and in cases of abuse, will pursue and prosecute those responsible."

Thus far in the investigation, three of the four Highland Park police officers charged have pleaded guilty and been convicted. Former Officer Shawn Williams pleaded guilty on May 2, 2013 to conspiring to commit extortion, and former officer Anthony Bynum pleaded guilty on May 23, 2013 to conspiring to commit extortion and bribery.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David A. Gardey.